Kamaruddin Panggabean dies at 80

JAKARTA (JP): Noted national sports figure Kamaruddin Panggabean died of respiratory problems on Wednesday. He was 80.

He was buried at his home town of Sarbelawan, 120 kilometers east of the North Sumatra capital of Medan, in a funeral attended by hundreds of mourners on Thursday, Antara reported.

Footballers of PSMS Medan, a team which Kamaruddin founded, were among the tearful attendants.

Kamaruddin died after undergoing several days of medical treatment at the Graha Medika Hospital in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.

Born in Tarutung on Nov. 18, 1918, he is survived by a wife and 10 children. His extended family also includes 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Before his death, Kamaruddin told his children he wished to be buried in Sarbelawan.

Kamaruddin is known as a reputed sports figure with a number of state credentials, including the Lencana Kenegaraan state medal from deposed president Soeharto in 1996.

Kamaruddin had been involved in sports development both in North Sumatra and Indonesia as a whole since 1950. He was one of founding fathers of the Sports Organizations Coordinating Board (KOGOR) and its replacement organization the National Sports Council (KONI).

Widely known for his enthusiasm for soccer, Kamaruddin initiated the Marah Halim Cup international soccer tournament in Medan in 1972. The annual event was last held in 1988.

Apart from his managerial post with the Mercu Buana soccer club in the 1980s, Kamaruddin also held key positions in the All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) and the North Sumatra sports council.

PSSI chairman Agum Gumelar expressed his condolences on the death of Kamaruddin, better known as Opung Kamrud. (lnt)